El-Rufai: Fuel Subsidy Returns, Nigeria Paying More Under Tinubu

Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has revealed that the fuel subsidy, which was initially removed by President Bola Tinubu, has been reinstated due to the government’s realization that the subsidy removal was not yielding the desired results.

El-Rufai shared this information during a conversation with newsmen in Maiduguri on April 16, 2024.

According to El-Rufai, the government is now paying more for subsidies than before, as the support packages aimed at reducing the impact of subsidy removal have not been effective.

He emphasized the importance of pragmatism in leadership, suggesting that when a policy is not working, it should be modified to better serve the people.

“When you make a policy, you start implementing it, and it doesn’t seem to work well. You should have the humility to stand back and say this is not working, and you modify it,” said El-Rufai.

He also pointed out that the current pricing of diesel and petrol illustrates the extent of the subsidy, with diesel being more expensive than petrol, despite the opposite being the expected norm.

While acknowledging that President Tinubu’s administration is still in its early stages, El-Rufai refrained from assessing its performance, suggesting that it is too soon to draw conclusions about the government’s effectiveness.

El-Rufai’s comments highlight the challenges faced by the administration in implementing policies and the need for adaptability and flexibility in governance.

As President Tinubu and his team work to fulfill their campaign promises and address the various challenges facing Nigeria, the reintroduction of the fuel subsidy serves as a reminder of the complexities of policy-making and the importance of listening to the needs of the people.